Now that you have an NDIS plan for your child, the next step is how best to use this plan to make the most of the funding available. There are numerous services and supports offered. But you can ensure that you and your kid will receive the supports necessary to accomplish your goals by selecting the best NDIS support provider.
There are a few different ways to manage NDIS funding including self-managed, plan-managed, NDIA-managed, or a combination of all three. Deciding on which is best for you and your child will depend on your needs and individual goals. Here we will explore the options of plan management and how this may help you to negotiate your child’s NDIS funding.
Plan Management
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will provide funding in your child’s plan to enable you to have a Plan Manager. A Plan Manager’s role is to pay support providers on your behalf, help you keep track of the budgets within your plan, and deal with financial reporting for you.
You will have choice and control over the providers you engage to support your child, make decisions based on getting the most value for money from the plan funding, and access your child’s plan on the NDIS Myplace provider portal to see what funding is available.
Choosing a Plan Manager
If you would like your child’s NDIS funding to be plan-managed, the support category called ‘Improved Life Choices’ must be included in your child’s NDIS plan. If you are unsure, or would like to have this included in the plan, you can discuss this with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or Support Coordinator.
When selecting a Plan Manager, you must make sure they are an NDIS registered provider. A list of registered providers can be found here or by having a chat with your LAC or Support Coordinator.
It is important that you have a good NDIS Plan Manager working for you as they will be responsible for taking care of the funding in your NDIS plan. This means you need to be comfortable and happy with the service they provide. If you are not satisfied with your Plan Manager you can change at any time by contacting the NDIA.
Your Funding Taken Care Of
Your Plan Manager is responsible for managing the funding in your child’s NDIS plan. They will make sure your providers are paid on time by claiming from the funds in the plan and paying the money directly to the service provider.
They will keep track of the budgets within the plan and ensure that your child has enough funding to cover the costs of the selected supports; and will also deal with any enquiries from providers regarding your child’s funding.
The Plan Manager will take care of the administration involved in managing an NDIS plan including financial reporting and other NDIA requirements in relation to the plan funding.
With the responsibility of financial matters in the hands of a good NDIS Plan Manager, you will have more time to invest in the decisions around which providers and supports can best meet you and your child’s needs.
